Gross alpha and gross beta activities in selected marine species in Vietnam

The measured gross alpha and gross beta activities in the edible muscle tissues of eleven selected marine species along the coast of North Vietnam varied from 10.2 +/- 1.5 to 73.2 +/- 8.1 Bq/kg (wwt) and from 10.6 +/- 0.4 to 68.8 +/- 2.8 Bq/kg (wwt), respectively. The lowest gross alpha activity was recorded for bigfin reef squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) as a result of its carnivorous diet, and the highest alpha activity was noted for blood cockle (Anadara granosa) as a result of its omnivorous diet. However, the gross beta activities in both carnivorous and omnivorous species were similar. The highest and lowest gross beta activities were observed for narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) and for bigfin reef squid and squid (Teuthida), respectively. All three aforementioned species have carnivorous diets. The calculated annual committed effective dose resulting from the consumption of 25 kg of muscle tissue per year varied from 192 to 1375 mu S with an average of 689 mu S.